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Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) is starting up knowledge and road tests with new safety protocols in place.
Customers are encouraged to book their knowledge tests online.
For those who don’t have access to online services, MPI is allowing people who phone their Autopac agent to perform certain critical transactions over the phone or by email.
MPI has made changes to the Class 1 road test process to ensure employee and customer safety. Customers must now provide and wear their own mask, answer questions to make sure they haven’t been exposed to COVID-19, and sanitize all touchpoints in their vehicle.
When taking knowledge tests, customers must arrive 15 minutes prior to their appointment and sanitize their hands when they enter the building.
Up until June 12, customers may have to bring their own pen to complete paper tests. After June 12, electronic testing will resume.
If these requirements are not met or the customer shows any symptoms of COVID-19, the test will be immediately cancelled and rebooked.
Customers can access the updated procedures here.
On a separate note, drivers in Manitoba could be getting some more good news in the coming weeks from MPI.
CEO Ben Graham, says the corporation has never been financially stronger - even after handing out $110 million in rebates.
Graham says Manitoba drivers can expect more details in a couple of weeks.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
Two Manitoba Conservation Trust grants are going to the Association of Manitoba Community Pastures.
$250,000 will be making its way to the Alonsa, Bield, Cote-San Clara, Ellice-Archie, Ethelbert, Langford, Spy Hill-Ellice, Wallace and Woodlands Community Pastures for improvements towards grazing and range management.
The nine community pastures combine for 189,500 acres, they also provide grazing services for 31,800 head of livestock and are important habitats for species at risk.
The community pastures are the home to federally and provincially-listed species at risk including the Northern Prairie Skink in Langford, and at-risk bird species including Bank Swallow in the Woodlands, Olive-sided Flycatcher in Bield, Whip-poor-will in Alonsa, and Sprague’s Pipit in Ellice-Archie, Spy Hill-Ellice, and Wallace.
The second grant of $25,000 will be given to the Bield and Wallace Community Pastures for completing range health assessments using made-in-Manitoba methodology and land management plans.
The Aspen Parkland Ecoregion will experience ecological monitoring, focusing on biodiversity and land management planning across 17,300 acres.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
11:07 am Update June 5:
On June 2, 2020, Jayden Wade Catcheway, 23, of Skownan First Nation, was charged with manslaughter and appeared in court on June 3, 2020.
He has been remanded into custody.
The investigation continues.
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Winnipegosis RCMP responded to a report of an injured man at a residence on Skownan First Nation yesterday morning around 11:05.
The 31-year-old man was transported to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries.
The RCMP have a suspect in custody.
The death is being investigated as a homicide.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
You may have already spotted the renovations happening at the Fusion Credit Union branch in Dauphin.
Fusion’s CEO Darwin Johns explains the revamping of their Dauphin location will provide a space that can meet the needs of employees, members, and the community.
“We really see it as a positive project and contribution to the Dauphin community as well. We see it as positive that we’re having these conversations during difficult times — and really see that we will be involved in Dauphin long term.”
Johns says about 25% of the financial cooperative's employees work out of the Dauphin branch, and these updates to the interior will help create more office space and enable them to offer more services to members.
Fusion Credit Union has a total of 18 branch locations, as well as 5 insurance agency and real estate locations.
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- Contributed by 730 CKDM
Today is World Environment Day — where we have an opportunity to reflect on what we all need to do to improve our environment.
This year's theme is “biodiversity”, which comes at a time where 1 million species are facing extinction.
Also happening today is a small climate change awareness event outside of City Hall, hosted by the Citizens' Climate Lobby - Dauphin Chapter.
The event will run this afternoon from 12:15 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Co-chair Rebecca Van Otterloo says the event will follow public health guidelines, with respect to physical distancing and the province's 50 person limit for outdoor gatherings.
“The ongoing issue of climate change remains just as real and urgent as ever. We just welcome people to join us and explore those solutions and be apart of building a liveable future together.”
The group has invited Dauphin City Council to take part.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Dauphin Rec Services will be opening up more of its facilities on Monday.
The Dauphin Clinic Walking Track and the Rec office will open up to members only, starting next week.
The Kinsmen Aquatic Centre will also be opening- but only to complete swimming lessons that were interrupted because of COVID-19. The pool will open up to more programming on June 22nd.
Dauphin Rec Services Operations Manager, Wes Carnegie says there will be strict health guidelines in place.
"We will only have one door open, that's our South entrance right off the main parking lot. When you come in you have to go to the front desk, and it's kind of like other businesses in town. We have to sign you up at the front and make sure you have no COVID symptoms because if you do, we'd rather you not be in our facility. We also have hand sanitizer there waiting for you."
Wes adds that there will be a limit to 25 people in each area, and visitors will be assessed using the online COVID-19 screening tool.
Looking ahead, we can expect to see the Vermillion Sportsplex open up for baseball, softball, and soccer on June 15th.
The Vermillion Campground will be closed until at least July 1st.
For more information, you can go to dauphinrec.com, or call Dauphin Recreation Services at (204)-622-3150.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
The City of Dauphin has announced its Canada Day fireworks display has been postponed.
They say the decision is a response to evolving provincial restrictions surrounding COVID-19.
A release from the city reads “it’s not the fireworks that make us Canadian, but the compassion and strength we show in the face of adversity.”
The City will review the possibility of holding a fireworks celebration later this year.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
DRCSS students will now be graduating in a couple of weeks. June 20th is the new date for graduation and Norm Casavant, principal of the DRCSS, says the date is being changed from September 4th.
“The premier announced recently that school may very well start at the end of August. So we chose to likely move our grad to August 29th, and then we realized that things probably aren’t going to be that much different when we start the fall. So, it was then determined that if we’re looking at having to cancel again in the fall, let’s run a hybrid event on June 20th and do our best to make this event as positive for our graduates as possible.”
The details of what grad will look like are still being worked on, but students will get their diplomas, MC’s will be announcing scholarships, baby photos will be shown, the day will be recorded and the students will receive a disc of the graduation, the guest speaker and Casavant will have messages recorded for the video as well.
A graduation parade has been organized by the grad parents. After all the private convocations have finished, graduates are invited to participate. Graduates must pre-register for the parade and can do so by clicking here. Any graduates without access to a vehicle are asked to contact Mr Bennet at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling (204) 638-4629
Casavant is pleased with the new date.
“To get it done now, so grads can move on and do what they need to do, versus us not sure what the fall will look like and try to plan an event that may have to be cancelled anyhow. In my mind, this is significantly better for everyone involved.”
Casavant says they know how difficult this time is for the community and grads and hopes the day will bring some sunshine for everybody.
As plans are finalized, more information will be shared to the DRCSS website.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
There have been no new COVID-19 cases identified today; the total number of cases remains at 298.
There is still no one in the hospital, and there have been no new deaths in Manitoba since early May.
Manitoba has 7 active cases and 284 people have recovered.
For more information, you can click here.
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- Contributed by Tess Kovach
A 23-year-old woman has died of her injuries following a single-vehicle crash north of Eriksdale.
Shortly after 4 a.m. on Saturday, May 30th, Lundar RCMP responded to a collision on Highway 6 — about 4 kilometres north of Eriksdale.
An investigation determined the vehicle driven by a 23-year-old woman from the RM of Coldwell was heading southbound when it lost control, entered the ditch, and rolled.
The driver suffered serious injuries and was transported to hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
Police continue to investigate.
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- Contributed by Matt Hamel
Restrictions concerning visitation at personal care homes were loosened in Manitoba last week.
While outdoor visits are now allowed, Ada Husak, Director of Acute and Personal Care Homes for PMH North, still encourages virtual visits, such as video calls, phone calls, parades, and window visits.
“But we are excited to enter a new phase of visiting for residents and families. Recently, with our public health officers and Dr Roussin relaxing some of the restrictions on personal care home visits, we’ve been able to begin onsite, outdoor visits at our personal care homes in the region. Prairie Mountain Health is in the early stages of implementing our outdoor visits throughout the region. These have been positively received by residents and families.”
Husak says so far, most of the feedback from families and residents has been positive, adding that families have been very happy and thankful for the visits.
“One visitor shared, seeing her husband, how she felt the excitement of the anticipation of the visit, as it got closer that excitement was building. She shared that she felt like when they were young again and were visiting. So that’s very exciting.”
Each personal care home has specific plans for outdoor, onsite visits. The areas vary because of the different layouts and needs of residents and families.
In Dauphin, St. Paul’s has two spots socially distanced apart for visits. Their visits started last week.
Dauphin PCH has a larger area to work with and they’ve been able to set up 4 or 5 areas for visits within their outside patio in the courtyard. Their visits are due to start this week and they’re in the process of booking them.
Husak says appointments are required for visits.
“We can’t accept drop-in visitation at this time. Each resident or their primary contact that’s listed for them will have received or should have received a letter by now, advising them of the outdoor visits. The letter will also give them instructions on how to go about booking their visit. There should be a name and a contact number for them to call if they have any questions, concerns that come up in the coming days or weeks.”
There are still some restrictions to be followed. The primary contact is asked to provide the names of 4 essential visitors per resident. The limit is 4 in order to continue to limit the circle of contacts to the resident, thus decreasing the risk of COVID exposure. Children under the age of 14 should be accompanied by an adult.
All visitors should expect screening to ensure they don’t have any symptoms or exposure to the coronavirus. If visitors have cold, flu, or coronavirus-like symptoms, they won’t be allowed to visit. Husak asks that all visitors comply with the infection prevention and control measures, such as strict hand hygiene and maintaining social distancing. Visitors will be greeted by the screener, screened, and showed to the area of the visit. The resident will be brought to the visit by the staff.
Indoor visits remain suspended at this time except on a case by case basis for compassionate, end of life reasons.
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- Contributed by Isaac Wihak
